caulfield12

Fwiw, the last time this happened was with the Blue Jays and Yu Darvish, where the club was fighting with the local fans who didn't believe they'd actually made a real honest attempt to sign him, even though they were trying to take credit for giving it the old college try and being right in it up until the end.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 01:59 PM) That's fine, but every game thread, if Beckham makes an out it seems posters start foaming at the mouth. He's been bad. He's admitted that, but I don't see why it is necessary to bring Semien up now, and not wait a while. Anyone can say he's ready, but how can anyone really know that? It isn't like he's dominating. Let it go a few more weeks, maybe Beckham finds some luck, someone gets hurt and another team trades for him, and maybe Semien gets hot, he was good last night and comes up confident. It seems to me the reason people want Semien is based more on Beckham than Semien. I think the White Sox need to call him up based on him and not Beckham, he was on the roster because of Beckham's injury initially and was in a bit over his head, or they wind up having more problems down the road. The same reason the Cubs brought up Baez in August. Because you can't simply go on September results to determine if he (Semien) should be a projected starter coming into 2015 season...45+ games gives you a far bigger sample size than 25 games. (Not to mention he's a natural SS, so he needs to show how well he can play 2B at the major league level, as they might move Russell to 2B and Baez to 3B or a corner OF spot, or keep Bryant at 3B or move him to RF). We've seen guys like Fields or Morel look good in September and then POOF it disappears the next season when it really counts and the weather's cold.

I've heard he topped out at 97, but 92-95, sometimes touching 96, is more to be expected...

26 strikes, 39 total pitches in 3 IP for Rodon. 2/1 strike to ball ratio. Keon Barnum with a leadoff double, top of the 4th.

Looks like Rodon might actually be getting a 3rd inning after all. That's new. 4-3 groundout, Jake "TUC's Hero" Peter to Barnum, 1 out. 0-2 count results in a K on a high fastball, blew away the hitter. 3 K's in 2 2/3 IP. Seems to be working on his mechanics. Visualizing the pitch, and then try to repeat his delivery..creating a trigger of sorts. Another 3-0 count. Popped up the batter to Keon Barnum after falling behind, got a strike and then the weak contact. Through 3 with a manageable pitch count, 3 IP, 2 hits (both singles) BB, 3 K's

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 10:37 AM) Well he's all arms and legs, his fastball averages 93 and can touch 96, his slider averages 80 (a 13 MPH difference!), and his changeup comes in at 84. He's also using his changeup a lot more this year too - the fastball usage has remained the same from last year at 51.4%, but the slider and changeup have swapped places - slider usage last year was 29.6% with the changeup at 19%, while the slider is at 18.1% this year and the change at 30.6%. The result? K/9 has increased, BB/9 has decreased, he's generating more infield flies, the line drive rate is down, and as a result, the decrease in home runs allowed, despite allowing more fly balls, seems like organic growth and not an outlier. Let's hope Rodon can follow this path as well to avoid undue wear and tear from the slider torque.

Rodon gives up a single to start the inning. The guy who had the hit picked up 6 RBI's yesterday. Terence Marin warming, looks like Rodon's only getting 2 innings again, not 3. Buddy Bell also in attendance with Hahn. Almost had a K, batter barely fouled it off, then would have had a second double play but the runner was moving on the pitch, ground out 5-3, runner to 2nd. 3-0 count now. Has had a few walks, which is normal with all the rust the last couple of months. Walk, 4th overall with the Dash to go with his 6 K's. 1st and 2nd, one out. Swing and a miss on a change. Dude's hitting in the 150's with 25 hits, but only 14 of them have stayed in the park. Pitch bounced away from Narvaez, runners both advance. 2nd K today with the bread and butter slider in front of Hahn. 2 down. Jirschele takes a grounder and records another 5-3 out. Rodon escapes any damage and is likely out of the game for Marin.

The problem is that the Cubs aren't going to get away with trading Almora/Alcantara/McKinney...they're going to have to touch their core four or whatever they call them, core five really with Russell now.

Hawkins has been getting a steady diet of curveballs/offspeed stuff recently...although he K'ed on a fastball. May and Rondon singled to lead off the inning, but the only run scored on a Coats ground out up the middle. Leadoff hitter for the P-Nats, Swing and a miss on a filthy 0-2 slider. 6th strikeout with the Dash. Steve Carlton-esque. Getting ahead of hitters early. Rondon made a great diving play on Renda but couldn't get the 2nd batter with the throw...which came from his knees. Apparently he's the 2nd fastest runner on Potomac. Peter, Rondon to Barnum double play ball, inning over.

Not sure how Amaro still has a job at this point. They're stuck with so many bad contracts right now....it makes Dunn/Danks look like a walk in the park. Of course, they have a higher payroll and are generating more revenue, despite being 10-15 games under .500 for most of the season.

Hahn being interviewed by the radio guy for the Dash. Says they're pleased with the progress that Rodon is making with his change-up, which is their (from a front office standpoint) number one priority right now in terms of Carlos perfecting that 3rd pitch he'll need in the big leagues...as he was able to get by with just FB/SL 95% of the time with NC State. Has been there for a three-day trip...seems to be very pleased with how the Dash have been coming around the last six weeks, with the obvious exception of the Montas and Anderson injuries. Didn't talk about any of the other players other than Rodon and how impressed they've been with his make-up, work ethic and willingness to learn. Apparently going on a first trip to Washington, D.C., with his son Jacob over the weekend.

Watching it again, that dude's really lucky he didn't chip/damage his teeth or severely injure his neck by jamming it into the bag.

QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 07:30 AM) That's not a thing. He's one of the best pitching prospects in the game right now. I was JUST joking. I'm at least going to follow it on radio...not going as far as subscribing to milbtv for just 2 1/2 weeks, though.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 08:00 AM) They are going to ask for half of their farm system, just like they did with the Dodgers, and nothing will happen. And even the Dodgers aren't willing to easily give up Pederson/Seager/Urias, let alone all three of them. One does have to wonder if the calculus is now shifting to trying to dump Crawford or Ethier instead of Kemp now or in the offseason.

One of the Phillies' beat radio reporters was saying they would absolutely have to be blown away with prospects, and that's just not going to happen. The Cubs aren't going to be willing to trade at least one of Baez/Soler/Bryant/Russell AND take on that big of a salary. Probably something along the lines of Baez/Soler (Russell doesn't make as much sense since Rollins' contract kicked in for 2015) AND CJ Edwards and maybe Alcantara, for example. That's a non-starter for the Cubs.

I liked Lucy, although the Bradley Cooper version (less scientific) was preferable and a better script. On the other hand, any movie that forces you to think and has Morgan Freeman in it...can't be all that bad. However, I can certainly understand why the rottentomatoes rating is hovering right around 60%, which is considered the bottom cutoff for good and turning into mediocre. It's definitely worth seeing, though. Guess they had to make the Koreans the bad guys in this one (and their motivations/reasons for villainy are one of the script weaknesses)...instead of the Chinese/Taiwanese. That's not a plot spoiler, as Jang is clearly supposed to be a Korean drug/crime boss and most importantly speaks Korean, haha.

Someone is getting too excited about Rodon's start....guess it's more compelling than the big league team for the moment.

There's no way Viciedo goes through waivers without at least being claimed. Just because someone claims him doesn't mean we will hear about it, if a trade can't be worked out.

QUOTE (hi8is @ Aug 7, 2014 -> 02:58 AM) How is that even possible? With Korean baseball, anything's possible...

Story on new Padres GM AJ Preller, 37 years old...Cornell grade, summa cum laude, former roommate of Jon Daniels there ’s more than a good guess that George Bernard Shaw didn’t have San Diego’s professional sports teams in mind when he said youth is wasted on the young. Because it’s being served here, both seen and heard. A child shall lead our way.A year ago, the Chargers replaced very veteran General Manager A.J. Smith with a 41-year-old whippersnapper named Tom Telesco. Wednesday, the Padres introduced A.J. Preller — yet another A.J.! — as their latest GM, their fourth since 2009. He takes over for Josh Byrnes, who was canned in June — was he too old? — at the advanced age of 40, which liars tell us is supposed to be the new 30. Preller, a 37-year-old fresh off a 10-year hitch with the Texas Rangers (most recent rank: assistant GM), looks as though he just stepped out of his Cornell yearbook wearing a mortarboard. “Although A.J. is young in age, he’s an old soul,” said Ron Fowler, the team’s executive chairman, who probably had sold a few kegs of beer before Preller was born. Preller also has been described as being both ruthless and endearing. Didn’t they say the same thing about Al Capone? Anyway, that’s one interesting description of a young man who never has been in charge of a baseball organization. In his former capacity, what could he have done ruthlessly, put Super Glue on rosin bags? “I think he’s tough as hell,” Fowler said. “He outworked people. While everybody else was in the stands visiting, he was working. He was doing his job and gaining a reputation as a tough guy.” To find Preller, who was smart enough to graduate summa cum laude from an Ivy League school, who has become an expert in recognizing both U.S. and international talent, Fowler, lead investor Peter Seidler and CEO Mike Dee conducted a search Ulysses would have found drawn out. This was a terribly important hire and the trio found all available rocks and turned them over. In the end, Preller, who has put in 3 million air miles talent-searching, won. And the way Fowler talks about him reminds me of what Chargers boss Dean Spanos said of Telesco, who looks every bit the right hire, despite resembling a Mouseketeer. “A.J. literally has an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball,” Fowler said. “I was shocked — just shocked — at his knowledge. He came to interview with three pages of notes and eight hours of answers. You’ve got to be some kind of smart to do that. “He looks at the world differently, and that’s how you have to look at it here. You can’t look at it like the Yankees and Dodgers.” I wondered aloud why the Big Three went unusual and fired their GM at midseason. Plus, without a GM, assistant A.J. Hinch (yet another A.J., who resigned this week) conducted trades that sent off closer Huston Street and third baseman Chase Headley. The Street trade was disturbing. They could have waited and got something better. If the Angels wanted a closer that badly, they should have had to pony up something better than what they did. "We've always been candid; we did what we needed to do, although the media said we were idiots (for trading Huston Street for a lesser return)," Fowler said. "We had confidence in A.J. Hinch to do the job; we didn't have any trepidations." So they fired Byrnes so early because? "We wanted to have the best shot of looking at the (potential GM) pool without having to deal with five other teams," Fowler said. "You saw us play" — I certainly did — "this is a performance-based business and we were not performing." I can buy that for now. But I do know it's a good thing Preller is a confirmed workaholic because a half-buttock job isn't going to work here. The team's drafts historically have been so horrible they seem like fantasy. Internationally, despite sinking $10 million into the Dominican Republic (changes will be coming there because it has yielded nothing), not much has happened. Preller is a smart guy, so he knows what to say, and he said it all Wednesday. He isn't taking over the Dodgers and a $230 million payroll. He will have to be creative. He will have to be damn good. "I'm not a huge fan of a timeline," the latest A.J. said. "The Padres have never won a World Series, and that was intriguing to me. They want to build something long term; they want to build something first class." As for a Padres budget? "I don't see that as an excuse," he said. Good answer, because a big payroll is not necessary (or possible) here. A.J. takes over a team that can pitch but can't hit. And he can't bat cleanup. from San Diego Union Tribune (utsandiego.com/sports) http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/padres...p;vkey=news_mlb

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 08:29 PM) Well, Arrieta just got Coors'd Maybe we need to liberate a pitcher from Coors. On the other hand, we temporarily can't use the Cooper will fix 'em trademarked comment. Arrieta's at 2.71 now for ERA. Jinxed. And runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs are his property. Might as well trade Tulo now, Rockies...you're never going to get a better return. (Which will take either the Yankees or the Dodgers out of the Alexei Ramirez bidding.)

Not sure what to make out of Interstellar (just saw the preview/trailer). Hard not to think of Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey's earlier hit, Contact. Doesn't seem like he's been around nearly 20 years, as only recently has he been taken seriously as a dramatic actor. Sure it will be thought-provoking, though, with Nolan directing. Finally, hope someone finally gives Zoe Saldana an opportunity to headline a non-sci fi/action movie. The last one I remember her in was Colombiana...but that was still more action than drama imo.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 08:16 PM) Again he has hardly played. Just 7 or 8 more hits and you would stop picking on him. They want him to bunt more and use his speed, but because of his versatility, speed defensive profile he looks like a guy who should be fine at the end of the bench. I would imagine he will play winter ball and work on his offense. It is another case of if he is the biggest problem on the 2015 roster, the White Sox should be in great shape. Or six hits by Gordon Beckham.

QUOTE (fathom @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 07:10 PM) If you're going to say Q is worthy of going to the ballpark, then so is Arrieta. He would be 4th in the majors in ERA if he qualified. Just noticed that. 2.06 I'd say to Cubs' fans, Alcantara is just as exciting as Eaton is to Sox fans, plus he's a rookie.

QUOTE (Jake @ Aug 6, 2014 -> 06:27 PM) Jose Abreu Chris Sale Adam Eaton Avisail Garcia Jose Quintana The Cubs have one guy who is as clearly worthy of going to a ballpark to watch play (Rizzo). It's not lack of exciting players holding back our attendance. And Castro, Baez, Soler (in August or Sept), Alcantara (going through his first slump)....Coghlan has been fun to watch as well. Of course, Wood/Arrieta/Edwin Jackson is another story. And it's fun to see if their bullpen will implode every,time they have a lead. Finally, I don't think anyone gets really really excited about Quintana. He's more like opera...you grow to appreciate him, but you don't love him innately the first time you see him pitch.